On day one of the MLB Draft the Padres took an arm and two catchers, all out of high school. Their emphasis on day two was still on youth in the middle of the diamond.
With their 3rd round selection the Friars took another high schooler, centerfielder Mason House from Whiteville High School in Texas. House is 6'2" tall and weighs 190 pounds but he chose not to play heavily on the travel ball showcase circuit so he is a bit of an unknown commodity. Scouts like his size and power potential from the left side of the plate.
In the 4th round the Padres nabbed right-handed pitcher Sam Keating from Canterbury High School in Fort Myers, FL. As a senior Keating went 11-1 with a 0.96 ERA and 93 strikeouts.
With their 5th round selection the Padres took yes another high schooler and the only one who plays a corner spot, 3B Jonny Homza from South Anchorage High School in that baseball hotbed of Alaska. Homza is an intriguing prospect because he can play 3B, SS or catcher. The two-time Alaska Player of the Year also tossed a no-hitter on the mound.
With their next four picks the Padres went to the college ranks, grabbing three pitchers and another shortstop. Lefty-handed pitcher Aaron Leasher from Morehead St. went in the 6th round, followed by fellow lefty Nick Margevicius out of Rider University in the 7th round. Leasher has recorded back-to-back 100 strikeout seasons and Margevicius led the Broncos in strikeouts, wins, innings pitched, ERA, WHIP and complete games.
Faulkner University shortstop Olivier Basabe (a native of Venezuela) was scooped up in the 8th round. San Diego finished the second day of picks with two more right-handed pitchers, Alex Cunningham from Coastal Carolina and Dominic Taccolini from Arkansas. Basabe has a plus arm at short, recording throws over 90 MPH from the position. Cunningham was one of the big reasons the Chanticleers won the 2016 College World Series and Taccolini has a power sinker that scouts love.
The MLB Draft concludes on Wednesday with rounds 11-40. The Padres will have the 3rd pick of every round. Here's another look at the picks they made on Tuesday:
ROUND NAME SCHOOL POSITION
3 Mason House Whitehouse HS CF
4 Sam Keating Canterbury School RHP
5 Jonny Homza South Anchorage HS 3B
6 Aaron Leasher Morehead State LHP
7 Nick Margevicius Rider LHP
8 Olivier Basabe Faulkner SS
9 Alex Cunningham Coastal Carolina RHP
10 Dominic Taccolini Arkansas RHP
